Music

Wyclef Gets Political Over Jay-Z’s ‘Open Letter’

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Wyclef is the latest rapper to contribute a version of Jay-Z‘s “Open Letter,” a song with bristling lyrics that has become a hip-hop meme of sorts. The former Fugees frontman dropped his version of “Open Letter” on Tuesday (April 16), following remixes from Pitbull and Common.

Where Jay-Z’s original “Open Letter” takes on politicians who criticized his trip to Cuba, Wyclef aims his barbs at the powers that be he says derailed his run for Haitian president.

“I was with Bill Clinton on Air Force One…Used to go to DC, see Nancy Pelosi,” he raps, “I spoke in front of Congress fighting for my country/But once I decided I’m gonna run for president/My whole life changed in a split second/Now I understand the hidden eye on a dollar/They’ll never let a n**** have the power”

Common released his “Open Letter II” on Monday. Common defends Jay-Z and President Barack Obama, who came under fire for inviting Common to the White House in 2011. At the root of Common’s White House controversy was his endorsement of Assata Shakur, who, as a member of the Black Panther Party, escaped to Cuba after being convicted of killing a New Jersey State police officer.

Check out the full story and the many renditions of “Open Letter” at Radio.com.